Page 123 of Mistaken Magic

"I'mnot sure, exactly."Iglanced at the bird who was preening himself. "Iknow that whenIlived with theSparks, my last foster home - well, current,Isuppose - he was at my window.Thatwas the first time he told me his name, butI'vekinda always had crows around, and if he followed me from there, thenIdunno if he's the one from the previous time."

"Howmany times?" she asked carefully.

"WhenIwas a kid,Iused to throw cheerios to them, soIguess that's first."

Caw!Jackagreed.

"Andthen there was another foster family whereIfed them a bit.Crowsare really smart birds, and becauseImoved a lot,Iwasn't allowed to have a pet, soIkinda taught them to come to the window.Igot kicked out of that home for my foster mom losing an earring."

"ThetheftItold you about,"Liamexplained.

ButBrackenmoved over to kneel down besideJack. "Wasthat the first time,Jack?"

Jackshook his head.

"Wereyou there when she was a kid?"

Jacknodded as big and as fast as he could. "Jack.Rain.Jack-Rain."

Bracken'seyes narrowed. "Youneed a few more words, my friend."

"Toriansaid he'sPrinceJack,"Iadded.

Ms.Rhodeslifted a brow. "Isee.YourHighness?"

"Jack!" he corrected.

"Jack," she agreed. "Whatdo you mean about the first time?"

Jackruffled his feathers, looked at me, scanning my body as if searching for something, then his attention turned to the room around us.Hewas eerily intelligent, and it was fascinating to see him like this.Finally, he decided something and took off, flying over to the bookshelf.Pickingup a coin, he flew over toMs.Rhodes.That, he dropped into her lap, then pecked at her ring.

"Jack!"

"Youwant to trade?" she asked.

"No..."Brackenbreathed. "Hewants to make a deal.Isthat what you did,Jack?Didyou make a deal withRain?"Thebird nodded, soBrackenkept going. "Wasit when she was little?Smallerthan now?"Anothernod. "Aboutthis big?"Brackenasked, holding his hand up about toddler height.

"Jack!Rain!" the bird agreed.

Andthere was no doubt it was an agreement.Justto prove the point, he picked up the coin and returned it.Notthat he got it in exactly the same place, but it was still pretty impressive.Thenhe flew straight forLiam, landing on his shoulder.Evidently, that meant my "uncle" was safe enough to work as a perch.

"Ithink that settles it,"Ms.Rhodessaid. "Ifhe's a prince, then he's clearly fae.Ifhe made a deal withRain, then we can't separate them.Wedon't know the agreement.Theproblem is how to care for him."

"I'vebeen feeding him bread,"Iadmitted.

"Sowe will have to make sure you have better options," she told me. "Ifhe's going to be living inside with you, he will need to be fed inside with you as well.We'llget something foryour room, but he can also eat from the buffet."Sheturned her attention toJack. "Andno droppings on the floor.Atriumonly."

Surprisingly, the bird nodded.Mymouth just flopped open. "Buthe's a bird!"

"No,Rain,"Brackensaid. "He'sas fae asIam.Hemay have been born here, but that bird is closer to a nature spirit than any common animal.Treathim as such."

"Wow,"Ibreathed. "Andyou chose me,Jack?"

"Rain!" he croaked, looking rather pleased with himself.Idecided to take that as a yes.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Atdinner,Iwent to check onKeirbefore anything else.Hewas surprised to seeJackwith me, but said it all made sense.Rumorswere running through the dorms about the crows on the roof, and how they'd fought off theHunt.Keirassumed it had all been exaggerated.Iassured him it wasn't, and then explained howJackhad flown in yelling about theHunt.I'dalways thought he could only say his name.

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